A Life well lived and a Life just begun!

This week we experienced once again what it means to be the filling in the Sandwich!

From the death bed of my father-in-law to the one year birthday party of our little granddaughter, back to the Menno Hospital to check up on my mother-in-law and making funeral arrangements and then there is today, the 6th wedding anniversary of our daughter and her husband!
WOW! How quickly the years have flown by!
Congratulations and many blessings to the both of you!
With all of this, our emotions go up and down, spiralling every which way!
Thinking back, over these past few days since the passing of my Father-in-Law, our days have been intense, to say the least!
There were so many things to think about and to arrange! And, my goodness, was there a lot of driving to and from Abbotsford!
But during a time like this, it is wonderful to know how many people are keeping us in their prayers and that is what kept us going. Once people found out about our family's loss, the cards, e-mails, phone calls and flowers started to arrive. So many kind words and messages!
Then, on Thursday, Feb. 1st, another death announcement came!
My father-in-law's stepmother, Anganeta Gortzen, also went to be with her Lord and Saviour. She would have been 87 years old in April. She too, had been ill for a while already and we know that she is in a better place now, where there is no more pain and suffering.
Now we hope and pray that my mother-in-law's health will not fail her!
This has been a very difficult time for her and her heart can only take so much!
Yesterday, after her husband's funeral took place, and the many people that greeted and hugged her, she was so exhausted that I was seriously worried about her.
But what a wonderful day we all had!
Yes, it was hard to say goodbye but we had a great time of celebrating the life of John Gortzen,
husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Volunteer, friend and colleague to many!
A man who did many things in his life and live in many different places but wherever he lived in his almost 81 years, he left behind friends and people that cared for him.
The many people that came to his funeral and paid their respects, was the irrefutable proof to that fact!
Now we wait, as preparations are being made for another funeral, as well as, my mother-in-law's birthday, on Wednesday. I'm sure that it will not be an easy day for her.
A first event of many firsts, without her husband of almost 58 years! Alas, life goes on! ! !

In the mean time, I am so very grateful for our children and our beautiful grandchildren!
They are the future! And little Miss Anna reached her 1st birthday in grand fashion.

Our Sandwich has lost a slice and we will never be able to replace it!
One thing is certain, as time goes on and we live our lives, sooner or later, everyone gets their turn to be the filling in the Sandwich!
Sometimes it's dry and crusty and other times it's fresh and soft, but believe it or not, even though not always easy, it is a great blessing to be the filling that holds the Sandwich together!